Feminist leaders expressed fears yesterday that sensational news reports on sex scandals may be undermining confidence in Taiwan's rape laws.
A media frenzy began last week when a club hostess, identified only by her surname, Chung, filed a sexual assault complaint with Taipei police.
The woman told police she was sexually assaulted in a hotel room by at least two members of the five-man pop group Chairman, who had rented the room after drinking at the club where she worked.
The woman came back several hours later and asked that the charges be dropped, claiming she was drunk, but police are required by law to investigate the allegation.
The incident prompted a flurry of news reports about the band, which has built up a big following among young Taiwanese. The reports also implied that Taiwan's new rape law was flawed, as the woman had tried to rescind her rape accusation.
A legislator came forward to accuse Ms Chung of accepting a NT$500,000 (HK$121,300) out-of-court settlement from the band - explaining her desire to drop the accusation.
Two years ago, Taiwanese criminal law was changed to require prosecutors to investigate sexual assault accusations regardless of whether victims had filed a complaint.
Before, a victim had to come forward and file a complaint before any legal action was taken, leading women's rights leaders to complain the system was biased against women afraid of harming their reputations.
Su Chien-ling, chairwoman of women's group the Awakening Foundation, said even if Chairman had made an out-of-court payment, it did not affect Ms Chung's right to press charges.
She said despite media reports the new rape law was not flawed, and that the band members need not fear prosecution, as long as they were telling the truth about not raping the woman.